Tie Rod Adjusting Sleeve Modification

[ValiantOne]

Hey All,

I am redoing my front end right now and I want to try "home aligning" my car. I don't have a tie rod adjusting tool, and hated them when I worked in a shop back in the day. I wanted to use a regular open end wrench to make my toe adjustments. I think I came up with a winner. We'll see when it is time to do the alignment!

Anyhow I took some nuts that measured just under an inch across the flats. I forget the exact measurement but I can check if anyone wants to know. Then I opened up the ID of the nut to the OD of the tie rod adjusting sleeve.

Next I milled two 1/4 inch slots in the ID of the nut so it would fit over the dimples on the ends of the tie rod sleeves.

Finally I red locktited the nuts to the center of the sleeve and locked the whole thing in place with a small piece of rod which goes through the slot in the tie rod adjusting sleeve and one of the slots in the nut.

I think they'll work great and if not I can whizzer wheel them off without too much fuss.

 

[cudascott]

That's a cool idea I wonder if those could be tack welded to the sleeve without compromising the integrity of the sleeve?

 

[ValiantOne]

That's a cool idea I wonder if those could be tack welded to the sleeve without compromising the integrity of the sleeve?

Scott, I was going to silver solder the whole deal on there. Then I got to reading the FSM where is says DON'T EVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY SO MUCH AS A CIGARETTE LIGHTER WORTH OF HEAT TO ANY SUSPENSION COMPONENT OR YOU WILL DIE IN A FLAMING HEAP THAT USED TO BE YOUR CAR, and decided not to.

Honestly I think it would be fine. I have silver soldered sights and things on to gun barrels, etc. But just in the name of "safety" I decided to go the permanent locktite route.

Best,

CE

 

[YY1]

I've simply used channel locks in the past.

 

[furyus2]

It looks great, but my solution is to take a stubby flat blade screwdriver, and stick it in the slot, and rotate. Works best with tie rods that aren't seized. Lube it up. Don't forget the tie rod is meant to crush in an accident.